Artists meditation camp, Bangalore

Artists meditate and create new colors of ideas on their pallete

The Art of Living has been promoting art and culture through its various events. In January 2010, Antarnaad, the musical symphony in Pune, several artists created a symphony of expressions on the canvas along side. This was followed by Sri Kriti- Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna, a mega art competition in April 2010; over 3 lakh school children from Delhi were a part of this program.

“Whenever you praise the painting, the praise goes to the painter. Similarly, when you praise anything in this creation, the praise goes to the Creator, the Divine. – Param Poojya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji

Adding colors to this palette, an art camp was organized at the Art of Living International Center, Bangalore on February 5, 2011. Inspired by Sri Sri, 18 artists from all over India participated in the camp to promote art and culture, as art and spirituality walk hand in hand. This camp also included the Art of Living Part 1 course and put their experience of being the serene environment of the Art of Living International Center with the strokes of their brushes. To this the J.S.Khandera, Chairman, Lalit Kala Academy, Bangalore who was also a part of the program added, "Whenever the feeling is expressed, that is art. If the feeling is not expressed, then it is just a blend of colors."

Shama Sondhi, an artist in her own right and an Art of Living teacher is the organizer of the Art Camp. She has been organizing different camps for artists for the past six years. She shared that this was the first camp of its kind, where the artists learnt the Art of Living Part 1 meditations along with their paintings. As art in itself is considered a kind of meditation; how would it be to introduce artists to spirituality and knowledge?

Shama said, "My paintings before doing the (Part I) course were just black, dark green and brown. Now see the colors… they have become vibrant, my friends tell me that. They are blossoming now. First thing is my colors changed after doing Sudarshan Kriya, my moods and thinking changed, my whole perception towards life has changed."

These artists who were a part of the camp believed that the course enhanced their creativity."The moment I went through the Sudarshan Kriya, I felt my scattered energy got channelized,"shared Manish Pushkale, an artist from Delhi.

Koyali Mukherjee, an artist from Hyderabad felt a sense of peace and collective energy at the Center. Her painting was based on the concept of Vishwarupa. She explained,“It means how Lord Krishna was aware and made everyone else also aware of the universe and I have put down my experience of the course and the camp on the canvas as Vishwarupa.”

The three-day art camp celebrated the coming together of spirituality and art. Expressing itself in the flowered creativity of the artists.